🚀 go-pugleaf

From: Vince.Ivory@f903.n102.z1.fidonet.org
Subject: KPFK & Pacifica Radio
Conf: gen.radio
Date: 28 Apr 95 17:04 EDT


From: Vince.Ivory@f903.n102.z1.fidonet.org (Vince Ivory)
Date: 28 Apr 95 09:08:00 -0800


 * Carbon copy, originally to: Tliz@netcom.Netcom.Com
 WHAT IS HAPPENING AT PACIFICA RADIO?!

For 46 years, Pacifica radio has been the largest source of
progressive alternative daily news in the country. Pacifica's
five main stations in Los Angeles, New York, Berkeley,
Washington, DC, and Houston cover some of the largest and most
influential population areas in the nation. Pacifica also
provides programming for some 70 affiliates, further increasing
Pacifica's audience and political organizing base. Since its
inception Pacifica has been a landmark of firsts: The first
listener-sponsored station, the first fund drives, the first gay
and lesbian programming, the first radio call-in talk shows, the
first feminist show, etc. Among those who have had regular shows
on Pacifica are such diverse personalities as Casper Weinberger,
and Angela Davis. For years the Pacifica stations have been loved
and supported through community donations while they have been
hated and attacked by those on the far right.

It is known that conservatives such as Newt Gingrich, Rupert
Murdoch, and Bob Dole have their own plans for Pacifica radio as
well as all independent community stations. That is no secret,
but what is not widely known is that people at the highest level
of the Pacifica Foundation believe that it's time to move away
from grassroots radio.

Dramatic Draconian changes in mission and in programming are
underway at all Pacifica stations at present. Longtime
programmers are being pulled off the air with little or no
warning. In Los Angeles Al Huebner, who had a health show on the
air for 21 years, was suddenly dismissed. In Berkeley William
Mandel, who had been on the air for 38 years and stood up to
Senator Joe McCarthy in defense of Pacifica, has been pulled from
the air. In Houston "Sounds of India," a 15-year-program, has
been taken off, along with many smaller, less well-known
programs. Staff layoffs and forced resignations are also
underway. Again in L.A., eight staff members have been laid off
and two have quit; furthermore, all but one person on the
management team of the station was either forced to resign or had
their position eliminated. Pat Scott, the new executive director
of Pacifica, told the head of the union (UE) which represents
most Pacifica employees that layoffs would occur, regardless of
what the contract says or how the union feels about it.

Are such serious changes warranted by financial concerns and
likely cuts in CPB funding? Does the elimination of the
"community element" and drastic narrowing of the programming
focus act as an effective strategy in the current conservative
political atmosphere? The facts say otherwise. Listener support
is up for community stations across the nation. WBAI in New York
recently raised $ 870,000  in their recent fund drive, the second
highest amount ever raised by a public radio station. KPFK in LA
has also raised near-record amounts, exceeded only by the monies
raised by the station during the Gulf War period. Certainly the
rise of the Right has awakened many progressives to the need to
support their local community radio station. So why the firings
and layoffs? Why the dramatic shift in programming and the
removal of longtime volunteers and programmers from the air?

We are the Pacifica Accountability Committee, and have formed in
response to the centralization of power at Pacifica. We are
committed to empowering the listener-sponsors and volunteers. We
seek accountability from those who take our money and volunteer
labor, but give us no decision-making ability. We invite all
supporters of listener-sponsored radio who value free speech to
join us. Our next meeting will be:

Saturday    April 29    1:00 PM
Peace Center    8124 West Third Street, Los Angeles

Pacifica Accountability Committee
P.O. Box 8827, North Hollywood, CA 91608
(818) 509-8525
pac@sprawl.expressnet.org
rmwa60a@prodigy.com
 tliz@netcom.com

--
|Fidonet   :  Vince Ivory 1:102/903
|Internet  :  Vince.Ivory@f903.n102.z1.fidonet.org
|
| Standard disclaimer: The views of this user are strictly his own.